Management of Heat Stroke Patients: A Study of three Years Experience

Abstract

The presentation is based on Heat Stroke Center at the city of Mena where a large number visit annu-ally as one of the Islamic holy places for pilgrimage (Hajj). Rituals are performed in a sandy valley with temperatures ranging from 30-50°C with relative humidity of 25 to 50%. Illnesses are presented as heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke. This last one is less common and characterized by hyperpirexia above 40°, anhydrosis and CNS disturbances from confu-sion to convulsions and coma. Being the most severe form of heat illness has high mortality rate. In our experience the predisposing factors have been confirmed as high temperature, humidity and excessive physical exertion among unaclimatized pil-grims who come from many different points not hav-ing such extreme conditions as those found in the pilgrimage holy places. Contributory unfavorable factors are related to overcrowded places, old age, obesity, diabetes mellitus and respiratory or cardiac disease.